In which Winter has a thematically appropriate query

[shardofwinter]

Not all Nexus days can be sunshine and beautiful frost patterns. Days like this are a grim, sombre grey. The mist is so thin in places that all it does is make the distance fade away sooner than normal, but it does apply a more reserved filter on a place often filled with joyous shenanigans. No, this is unmistakeably a day which makes the multiverse feel close, secretive.

It's in this clandestine scenery that Reynard strolls about. Far from hopping or skating through the landscape, he strolls about the place, setting ice on the path and covering it with a dusting of snow. In the residential and commercial districts, he's sent ice along as many pipes as he could find. As he goes he rumbles a low slow tune. Some might recognise the sea shanty when he reaches the familiar 'Ho... Ho... and up she rises...'. He's not a bad singer, all things considered.

He looks up from his work and fixes his eyes on the nearest stranger, singing fading into a deep hum and then silence before he speaks. "What is the coldest thing you've ever done? The most cold hearted act you've ever brought yourself to commit. Go ahead. I'm not one to judge."

Just as the quiet settles back into place, he pipes up again. "Actually, you can tell me the literal coldest thing you've ever done too, if you'd prefer. I can't resist a good ice story."


((Reynard is still handing out Winter Curses & Blessings and causing trouble if you would like to avail of any. Other than that: Caution to those who talk to spirits, they are proud and fickle people.))

Comments

[hellburger]

"I like the concept!" he says, before quickly adding: "Well, not the moulding seats, but the bar co-op."

Miller gives the bar a discreet, experimental touch before leaning against it. Whew. After a bit, his shirt sleeves get rolled up to the elbows, as per his habit.

He lifts his chin in greeting when the bartender spots the newcomers. "Pick your poison, North."

[shardofwinter]

"It's quite nice," he agrees as he joins Kaz and looks around, scratching his beard.

Then his attention returns to important matters. "The strongest rum they've got."

[hellburger]

Kaz nods his approval and orders himself an añejo tequila. Once the drinks are poured, Miller gets back to the subject at hand. "So, what's your war story?"

[shardofwinter]

"You ask that as if expecting only one. I'm older than I look and I've lived through many wars..." He trails off only to interrupt himself, tilting his head at Kaz. "Did your world ever have an Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte?"

[hellburger]

"Ha! Well, my drink money is finite. Just give me one of your favorites." Kaz swirls the tequila in his glass and watches it settle.

"Napoleon? Absolutely. In my world, he was one of the greatest commanders in history. Between his military genius and civil reforms he left quite the legacy."

[shardofwinter]

"Then you know what happened when his Grande Armée tried to invade Russia?"

[hellburger]

Miller smirks. "The same thing that happened to most of Russia's would-be invaders; they ran into the infamous General Winter and his comrade, General Mud."

[shardofwinter]

Reynard's eyes dart away and he lets out a low, impressed, "Ooh..." Then his gaze returns to Kaz. "I should take that name some day."

"But anyway, I enjoyed tormenting Napoleon's troops immensely that Winter. It was after that drudgery that I vowed never to be conscripted again."

[hellburger]

"So ... the Tsar just comes knocking" -- Miller clears his throat and adopts an awful Russian accent -- "'Mr. North, Spirit of Winter, the Motherland needs you!'

"And you answered the call? Why even bother with mortal conflicts? What stake do you have?"

[shardofwinter]

The imitation and the assumptions get a proper, hearty laugh from him. "Oh no! Seasons, no! I wouldn't have bothered listening to any mortal man at Winter. I had been in France. Caught up in this march against the enemies of Le Chapeau. As soon as Winter came, I did as Winter bid. I pretended to be a normal soldier for a while, which I enjoyed immensely. The trickery of it. As a man I didn't care about the Russians much, but as a Winter spirit... They knew what Winter meant. They respected it. I had even less quarrel with them."

[hellburger]

"Alright. This is starting to make more sense." He takes a drag off of his tequila as he sorts through the information.

"So winter itself conscripted you? Your loyalty is to the season above all else?"

[shardofwinter]

"Naturally." He leans on one arm and watches Kaz work through this. "It's pretty important for a Winter spirit to be loyal to Winter itself."

[hellburger]

"I'm just working out the free will part of it," he says with a wave of his hand.

"I mean, you said you don't want to go to war again, but how do you avoid it? Did you just stay the hell out of Europe during the World Wars?"

[shardofwinter]

"Travel is a little complicated for me. I did manage to stay out of the Great War, the Second... was more dicey. Eventually I managed to find myself a spot where I could wait it out."

[hellburger]

"And where was that? A place like this?" He nocks back the last bit of tequila with a small wince.

He turns to prop his elbows against the bar and face the rest of the establishment. "Does this place even have seasons. Well, aside from when someone decides to make them?"

There's a pointed look at North.

[shardofwinter]

"No, no. On a mountain, in a forest, after carefully building up a ghost story that kept soldiers at bay."

"Of course it does." That's a complete lie. He's not entirely sure. "How else would I be here? Winter comes first and I come with it, not the other way round. Ha! As if I control Winter!"

[hellburger]

Miller gazes out at the other bar patrons, the odd mix you'd expect. "So all of this begs the question: are there others like you? Maybe some hot babe infused with the power of spring ... makes the plants grow and bakes on tan lines?"

[shardofwinter]

"I don't know. I've never met any. It seems a reasonable assumption, but Seasons, I hope not. Spring would be unbearable, Summer would be infuriating... Autumn would be alright."

[hellburger]

He snorts at the speculation. "Seems lonely being one of a kind. But at least you can pass for human. And drink booze, apparently."

The bartender has wandered back over to check in. "Want another, North? You earned it, answering all my prying questions."

[shardofwinter]

"In this case, loneliness might be far better than the alternative."

"Well, if I've earned it." He grins and nods. "So what about you? Do you have family? Friends? Secret powers?"

[hellburger]

The bartender dutifully refreshes both of their drinks.

"No -- no powers. Just a handsome face and a silver tongue, if anything," Kaz laughs.

"And ... not much left in the way of family. Mostly friends." He looks down at his glass and snorts. "Although that's kind of a misnomer. 'Allies' is a better word."

[shardofwinter]

The joking is met with a grin.

Reynard makes a small sound and nods thoughtfully. "That's true in most cases. Whether people believe it or not. 'Friends' is a word thrown around lightly and meant rarely."

[hellburger]

"In my line of work, people care about each other on more conditional terms. 'What does this person have to offer me or my cause?' Not exactly the best basis for a healthy friendship."

The tequila is getting to his head a little. "The moment someone shows the barest hint of giving a shit about you as a person ... kinda takes you off guard. Ha."

[shardofwinter]

He nods slowly in quiet agreement as Kaz speaks, half shrugging before he adds, "And even then, you start to suspect that's an act too, don't you?"

[hellburger]

Miller grunts his agreement, "Yep. Most people are looking out for number one. Myself included."

He tips back another swig of tequila and exhales. "You're basically immortal, right? You're probably in a great place to weigh in on human nature. Do you think we're basically good or bad? And none of that shades of grey cop-out bullshit."